SPCA

Our shared homes

From seals and dolphins, to birds, bats, insects and reptiles – many fascinating animals can be found in New Zealand.

All over our country, animals have made their homes in rivers, caves, bushes, trees, and the mountains of Aotearoa. Whether these animals have arrived well before or after us, they are all living, feeling creatures that all deserve kindness and compassion. This planet is just as much theirs as it is ours, so we owe it to them to do our best to protect their welfare, as well as be considerate and respectful of their homes and their lives!

Over the years, humans have made massive changes to the habitats in which these animals live. As our towns and cities get bigger, sadly, forests, wetlands and other habitats get smaller. When a habitat is destroyed, it makes it harder (or sometimes impossible) for the plants, animals, and organisms to continue living there.

This can be a frightening experience for animals, especially if these areas are bare and unfamiliar. Since we humans have caused these significant changes to these natural environments, we have a responsibility to step up as animal guardians to protect our wildlife in a kind and compassionate way.

These environments are these animals’ homes and are made up of living things that depend on one another, if one of these elements were to disappear, it would greatly and most often negatively affect the rest of the environment – this is why it’s so important for us to protect and promote these areas so that both animals and humans can enjoy them for decades to come.

Ocean, Coastal, and Beach Habitats

Among these thousands of animal species are the world’s rarest sea lion, penguin, dolphin, whale, and albatross. Additionally, approximately half of the world’s whales and dolphins visit or live in these habitats off of New Zealand, as well more than one-third of world’s seabird species! Some of these animals are native, some non-native, and some are endemic, meaning you can’t find them anywhere else in the world. Without these habitats and the resources they provide, where would these animals go?  

In addition to several underwater habitats, the coastal and beach areas where the water meets the shoreline create the perfect habitat combination for water and land dwelling animals. Beach sand, rocks, seaside vegetation, and cliffs are used by animals to nest, rest, and care for young. This includes the highest number of seabird species that do not breed anywhere else but Aotearoa – 38 species to be exact!

Freshwater and Wetland Habitats

Rushing freshwater streams and calm, beautiful lakes make the perfect place for many species of fish and birds to live.

Many species of birds and fish rely on the water and plants that freshwater and wetland habitats provide. These amazing animals (and plants) have adapted to thrive in these environments. They wouldn’t want to, and often can’t survive, anywhere else.  When these environments are healthy and thriving, they offer animals food, shelter, a place to raise their young, and everything else they need to lead happy, healthy lives.

These habitats are also important for humans as certain plants trap carbon, making them essential for managing climate change, they boost the quality of water, and they reduce the risk of flooding.

Threats to Wildlife

Birds are very vulnerable and face many threats, including predation, habitat loss, environmental degradation, human-animal conflicts and lack of awareness by the general public.

Despite the seemingly progressive NZ position on Animal Rights and Animal Welfare - most notably New Zealand's early adoption of animal sentience - there remains serious disparities between what is said, and what is done; between the vision publically asserted and the lack of will, commitment and support to reach those goals; the long-term underfunding, and recent cutting back, of investment and personnel working on the frontlines and  sadly, the shift from the long held view of NZ being 'a nation of animal lovers' to the place where where we now collectively stand: a nation steadily rolling back animal protections wherever they are found to subjectively interfere with or prevent "economic development". 
 

Dogs

See Dog Control Act

ROCKI
I was alerted to a case of dog mauling at Tahuna Torea. When I arrived on scene about ten minutes later, this juvenile swan had already gone into shock and had floated down the estuary several hundred metres, and was being pulled out to sea. She was unable to paddle or fly, and was almost lifeless. Fortunately I was able to catch up with her at a sand bank and quickly swaddled her in a towel. She was already ice cold and rapidly deteriorating.


She was raced to the local vet where she was given immediate critical care, heat and treatment. Miraculously she survived and over the course of about one month was able to recover, before being strong enough to be returned to her family in the wild.

Most aren't so lucky. In the past 12 months alone, there have been at least 5 fatal dog maulings just in my local area. Another at Tahuna Torea and 4 more in St Heliers, where dogs are encouraged to chase and kill the swans, due to local sentiment. 

Images: 
Dog bite wounds being flushed and cleaned
Message from a member of the public that a swan had been mauled by a dog at Tahuna Torea Nature Reserve
Photo from a member of the public of the rescue of Rocki at Tahuna Torea Nature Reserve
Rocki, swaddled in a towel, on arrival at the Vet Clinic
Rocki, resting after vet treatment
Rocki, back on her feet and recovering, a few days later

 

Reported incidents of dogs attacking protected wildlife are increasing, newly released DOC data has revealed.

“It’s the owner’s responsibility to keep their dog under control,” Hayden says. “It is not just untrained or aggressive dogs that kill protected wildlife – even small, usually docile pets or well-trained hunting dogs can and do cause serious injury or death when not controlled.

Full article here

 

Disturbance to waterbirds - why it matters

Many of us love the vast expanse of our shorelines, with plenty of space for our dogs to run freely. But it is time to stop and think seriously about the damage that this causes, and to learn to responsibly ‘share the shore’ with the animals that make it their home.  

Full article here

Prowling Pets: How To Keep Cats and Dogs From Wandering

With two important environmental holidays coming up, World Migratory Bird Day on 13 May and International Day for Biological Diversity on 22 May, it’s as good a time as any to consider how our pets affect New Zealand’s wildlife.  

Wandering dogs can cause a great deal of harm to birds and other animals, as can cats – and knowing how to stop a cat from wandering (especially at night) can be quite a conundrum.

Full article here

Unleashed dogs pushing Christchurch’s seabirds to the brink

Dr Pauline Howard has seen the consequences of off-leash dogs on New Zealand beaches first-hand.

As a veterinarian at the South Island Wildlife Hospital, she regularly treats seabirds injured by dogs, a problem she says is more frequent than many realise.

Full article here

 

Ensure your dog can’t get within a whisker of birds this summer

Dogs cannot resist the sweet stench of seabirds and owners need to keep a close eye and consider leashing them on the beach this summer.

Forest and Bird Auckland and Coromandel regional manager Lissy Fehnker-Heather said dogs were very dangerous to birds, particularly flightless species such as penguins.

Full article here

Keep wildlife safe around dogs

Enjoy getting out in nature with your dog without putting native wildlife at risk

Even if your dog just wants to play, they can scare birds off their nest and cause stress or injury, so give wildlife plenty of space – at least 20 metres (that’s four van lengths).

Full article here

Behaviour of dogs and their owners at key Estuary Ecological Sites

This research aims to find how effective the current dog by-laws in place at Avon Heathcote Ihutai Estuary are at protecting birdlife from the adverse effects of dogs. Dogs disturb birds in their habitat which is an increased risk at the estuary. The space is shared and treasured by the local community, so we aim to find a balance between birdlife and the community

Full article here

Birds and Dogs Don’t Mix - Aotea Advocate

Dogs are predators, birds are prey. Any interaction between them and a bird is stressful. It stops them eating, looking after chicks and resting.

Full article here

Gone to the dogs - Bird Guides

Dog walking is often the main motivation for many people's visits to natural or seminatural areas and hence their connection with nature, which may itself foster pro-environmental behaviours. However, it seems that most dog walkers fail to recognise the problem and may perceive dog walking as having significantly less impact on natural areas than other activities, despite scientific evidence to the contrary (see, for example, Sterl et al 2008).

Full article here

Environmental harm

Pesticides, herbicides and commercial spraying

 

Images:

(L) TITAN: APRIL 2025: TAHUNA TOREA NATURE RESERVE: After multiple reports to Auckland Council of observing Weed Management crews spraying directly over a swan family on their nest, I arrived to find the Dad, Titan, tremoring and struggling to walk. By the following morning, he was unable to support himself and his head was falling under the water (as per photo). I jumped into the pond and raced him to the Emergency vet, however they refused to treat him, and he died that afternoon. Multiple Specialist vet reports confirmed that Titan, and more to follow, had been poisoned as a direct consequence of the commercial sprays being used. 

(R) BOMA: APRIL 2026: TAHUNA TOREA NATURE RESERVE: Despite begging Auckland Council to not use weed management sprays near the areas where this baby lived, they proceeded, and within 1-2 days Boma was found dead at just 2 weeks old. 

As at this time, the commercial spraying continues. Auckland Council's Parks Management Supervisor telling a member of the public that she "didn't mind a few casualties" if it got the job [of weed management] done.  

Rubbish + plastics

 

Photos:
Swan with plastic in mouth

Food waste + the link to botulism

 

Images: 
Multiple large piles of raw eggs, noodles and other items dumped at Tahuna Torea Nature Reserve
Stale and mouldy bread rolls dumped at Tahuna Torea Nature Reserve
Stale and mouldy bread rolls thrown into the freshwater pond at Tahuna Torea Nature Reserve

Fishing - lines, hooks, sinkers and set nets

 

Images:

Set net left at Kohimarama Beach
Set net left at Tahuna Torea Nature Reserve
Cut fishing line and hooks found at Tahuna Torea Nature Reserve
Multi-hook found at Tahuna Torea Nature Reserve
Cut fishing line and hooks found at Tahuna Torea Nature Reserve
Cut fishing line and sinker found at Tahuna Torea Nature Reserve
Cut fishing line and hooks found at Tahuna Torea Nature Reserve
Hooks found at Tahuna Torea Nature Reserve

Image: Juvenile swans with fishing lines cast across their resting place in the background, at Tahuna Torea nature reserve